Ontario Secondary School Diploma 

This diploma will be awarded to students who successfully complete 30 credits including 18 compulsory credits and 12 optional credits.

Such credits will be based on the discipline specific expectations and assessment policies as set out in the provincial curriculum policy documents.

In addition, a student must complete 40 hours of community service activities and successfully complete the Grade 10 Literacy Test.

The following chart lists the 18 compulsory credit requirements:

Compulsory Credits (Total of 18):

Elective Credits (Total of 12) ***

  • 4 English * (1 credit per grade)
  • 3 Mathematics (at least 1 credit in Grade 11 or 12)
  • 2 Science
  • 1 French-As-A-Second Language
  • 1 Canadian History
  • 1 Canadian Geography
  • 1 Arts
  • 1 Health and Physical Education
  • .5 Civics
  • .5 Career Studies
  • 1 of English OR French as a Second Language,or a Native Language, or a Classical or an International Language OR Social Science and Humanities OR Canadian and World Studies, OR Guidance and Career Education, OR Cooperative Education**
  • 1 of Health and Physical Education OR the Arts (Music, Art, Drama, Dance), OR Business Studies, OR Cooperative Education
  • 1 of Grade 11/ 12 Science, OR Grade 9-12 Technology, OR Cooperative Education**

PLUS

  • 40 hours community-based involvement
  • Successful completion of the Grade 10 Literacy Test

*  A maximum of 3 credits in English as a second language (ESL) or English literacy development (ELD) may be counted towards the 4 compulsory credits in English, but the fourth must be a credit earned for a grade 12 compulsory English course.

**  A maximum of 2 credits in cooperative education can be counted as compulsory credits.

***  May include up to four credits achieved through approved Dual Credit courses.

All courses are 1-credit courses requiring a minimum of 110 hours of scheduled time except for:

Note:  All students will take Religious Education courses in grades 9 through 12 as part of their commitment to Catholic Education.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT STATEMENT

As part of the diploma requirements, beginning in September of Grade 9, students must complete a minimum of 40 hours of community involvement activities outside of class hours. These activities may be completed at anytime during their years in the secondary school program.

Detailed information will be provided to students and parents in the Board’s “Community Involvement Manual”, delivered by their Teacher Advisor. Documentation will be collected and recorded on the final report card each semester.

THE GRADE 10 LITERACY TEST

All students must successfully complete the Grade 10 Literacy Test in order to earn a secondary school diploma. The Grade 10 Literacy Test will measure how well students are meeting the reading and writing expectations across subjects in the provincial curriculum up to the end of Grade 9. Students will take the test in Grade 10. Students who are unsuccessful at their first attempt will have opportunities to rewrite the test following remediation.

The necessary accommodations will be made to ensure that students who are receiving special education programs and services and who have an Individual Education Plan (IEP) have a fair and equal opportunity to successfully complete the test.

Students who might benefit from a deferral of the test may include students who have an IEP and students registered in English as a Second Language/English Literacy Development (ESL/ELD) courses, who have not yet acquired the level of proficiency in English required for successfully completing the test.

Students whose IEP indicates that the student is not working towards the attainment of a secondary school diploma may, with parental consent and the approval of the principal, be exempted from participating in the test.

Each school provides preparatory work and remedial work.